Dennis Pass
- 2271 m (7450ft)
- Naming History
- Peaks and Rivers
Province: BC
Park: Yoho
Named by:
Named for: Dennis, Lt. Col. John Stoughton (A surveyor, John Dennis travelled widely in western Canada during the latter half of the nineteenth century.)
Mountain (SE): Mount Stephen
Headwaters (NE): Kicking Horse River
Headwaters (SW): Boulder Creek
DENNIS PASS
Lt. Col. John S. Dennis was a surveyor who in 1869 was very involved in igniting the Riel Rebellion.
The surveying of what the Metis felt was their lands was instrumental in their transfer to Canadian jurisdiction from the Hudson Bay Company. The Metis, fearing the changes, formed a committee which was successful in halting the surveys and then went on to seize Fort Garry. While a "List of Rights" prepared by Louis Riel was being discussed by both the English and French speaking people of Red River, Dennis and another Canadian formed an armed resistance. They subsequently surrendered to Riel, were placed in prison, and the Metis leader went on to form a "provisional" government. Dennis later became Surveyor General of Canada and shortly before his death in 1885 was involved in mineral exploration near Castle Junction in Banff National Park.